Teach Soap

My step-daughter is really into the lime green and purple combination, partly due to her infatuation with Wicked (the book and the musical.) I was thinking I might try to make her a swirled soap and then I found out that MMS has an FO that is actually called Wicked. The only recipe they have using it is for lotion so I'm curious to know if anyone has tried it in CP.
My other problem is figuring out how to color it, I'm very new to soaping and I have no experience with colorants. I like the idea of using something natural but the purple should be fairly dark, and I need something that's dependable. College has been tough on her and I want to do this for her Christmas present without needing to make a dozen batches to get it right so any advice will be greatly appreciated.

I have not tried Wicked FO but it sounds very nice...maybe send an email to MMS and ask them if it's ok in CP soap.

From what I hear, it's difficult to get a dark purple from natural colorants but some people have had some luck with alkanet root? Maybe some of the experienced soapers here who use natural colorants will comment on this. I have had really good results getting a dark, amethyst-type purple mixing Raging Raspberry from TKB Trading and just a little ultramarine violet. Not natural but reliable and a beautiful purple every time! For a natural green color you might look into dandelion root or spirulina, although I have heard some soapers say that spirulina gives their soap DOS. I use chromium green oxide for a medium green color, again, not officially considered "natural" but dependable. Good luck and enjoy!

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If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane
~Jimmy Buffett

alkanet root gets you a nice natural purple in cp soap (it is ph dependant) and you can get a limey green with nettle.
With the alkanet powder, while you can infuse it into the oils or add it to the batter, you will get more consistent color and no speckling or grittiness if you infuse it into your oil ahead of time. The nettle can just be added into s small amount of batter, mixed well, then added into the entire amount of batter you care to color.

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Remember, it's not just that we weather the storm, but how we dance in the rain.

Tammy

If you seek, you shall find. I sent a message to MMS to ask about the Wicked FO and they sent me a reply that included this link:
http://blog.thesage.com/2010/10/15/wicked-witch-soap/

They said they have experienced no acceleration and it holds up well but it does discolor to a light tan. Oh, and usage recommendation for moderate scent was .4 PPO.

Time to place an order!

Ugh, this is one of the FOs that was a total pain in the toosh for me! Seized 2 batches, and the third separated into caustic goo. Cost me a lot of money on wasted soap!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist